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Selected Verse: Psalms 5:3 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ps 5:3 |
King James |
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
direct--literally, "set in order," as the showbread was placed or set in order (Exo 40:23). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord - The voice of prayer. Compare the notes at Psa 3:5. Probably he refers here to a general habit of praying in the morning, though he makes a particular reference to his circumstances at that time. Compare Psa 55:17. The psalmist felt, doubtless, that while it was a general duty and privilege to call upon God with the return of each morning, there was a special reason for it in the circumstances in which he then was. See the introduction to the psalm. He was then surrounded by enemies, and was in danger, and it was only in God that he could hope for protection even for a single day. The propriety of looking to God in the morning by prayer commends itself to any reflecting mind. Who knows what a day may bring forth? Who knows what temptations may await him? Who can protect himself from the dangers which may encompass him? Who can enable us to discharge the duties which are incumbent on us every day? Feeble, helpless, sinful, prone to err, in a world of temptation, and surrounded by dangers alike when we see them and when we do not, there is an obvious fitness in looking to God each morning for his guidance and protection; and the resolution of the psalmist here should be the firm purpose of every man.
In the morning - Regularly; each morning.
Will I direct my prayer unto thee - Margin, as in Hebrew, "set in order." The word used here - ערך ‛ârak - means properly to place in a row, to put in order, to arrange, e. g., to place wood upon the altar Gen 22:9; Lev 1:7; to arrange the showbread on the table Exo 40:23; Lev 24:6, Lev 24:8. There is, not improbably, an allusion to these customs in the use of the word here; and the meaning may be, that his prayer would be a regularly arranged service before God. It would be a kind of morning sacrifice, and it would be arranged and performed with a suitable regard to the nature of the service - the fact that it was rendered to the great God. There would be a devout regard to propriety - a serious and solemn attention to the duties involved in the act as the worship of a holy God. Prayer should not be rash; it should not be performend negligently or with a light spirit; it should engage the profound thought of the soul, and it should be performed with the same serious regard to time and to propriety which was demanded in the solemn and carefully prescribed rites of the ancient temple-service.
And will look up - The word used here - צפה tsâphâh - means, properly, to look about, to view from a distance. In Isa 21:5, it refers to a tower which has a wide prospect. Compare Sol 7:4. The idea here is properly that he would watch, narrowly and carefully (as one does who is stationed on a tower), for some token of divine favor - for some answer to his prayer - for some divine interposition - for some intimation of the divine will. This is, perhaps, equivalent to the Saviour's repeated command to "watch and pray." The notion of looking "up" is not necessarily in the word used here, but it indicates the state of mind where there is deep and careful solicitude as to the answer to prayer. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Morning - Every morning. As soon as I wake, I am still with thee, as he saith, Psa 139:18. The first thing that I do is to pray to thee. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning - We find from this that he had not prayed in vain. He had received a blessed answer; God had lifted upon him the light of his countenance, and he therefore determines to be an early applicant at the throne of grace: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning." He finds it good to begin the day with God; to let Divine things occupy the first place in his waking thoughts; as that which first occupies the mind on awaking is most likely to keep possession of the heart all the day through.
In the morning will I direct my prayer - Here seems to be a metaphor taken from an archer. He sees his mark; puts his arrow in his bow; directs his shaft to the mark, i.e., takes his aim; lets fly, and then looks up, to see if he have hit his mark. Prayers that have a right aim, will have a prompt answer; and he who sends up his petitions to God through Christ, from a warm, affectionate heart, may confidently look up for an answer, for it will come. If an immediate answer be not given, let not the upright heart suppose that the prayer is not heard. It has found its way to the throne; and there it is registered. |
23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.